- One woman brought her granddaughter in the hopes Charlie ‘might notice her’
- Charlie had a rough day on the course, shooting a 16-over round of 86
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Charlie Woods attempted to qualify for his first PGA Tour event – but found himself battling the gallery as much as he battled the course he was playing on.
The 15-year-old shot an 86 while playing a pre-qualifying event at Lost Lake Golf Club in Florida in an attempt to make the field for the Cognizant Classic.
But while his score indicated a struggle with his game, the true struggle may have come with a large group of fans that followed him throughout the day.
As documented by Emilee Smarr of the Palm Beach Post, up to 50 fans were following the young Woods.
That included his mother, Elin Nordegren, who watched on as Tiger was elsewhere.
A rough day on the course for Charlie Woods was made rougher by a rowdy group of fans
![A group of about 50 got close to the 15-year-old at a qualifier for a PGA Tour event](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/23/16/81637857-13118539-image-a-25_1708706574288.jpg)
A group of about 50 got close to the 15-year-old at a qualifier for a PGA Tour event
![Charlie's mother, Elin Nordegren, was one of the people following the youngster around](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/23/16/81637869-13118539-image-a-26_1708706577864.jpg)
Charlie’s mother, Elin Nordegren, was one of the people following the youngster around
![Charlie shot eleven-over on the front nine and finished with a 16-over 86 for the round](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/23/16/81637879-13118539-image-m-28_1708706657850.jpg)
Charlie shot eleven-over on the front nine and finished with a 16-over 86 for the round
Charlie struggled with his driver, including an early tee shot that went wide right toward the rough and sent fans rushing to try and grab the ball.
Eventually, they began to make their way onto the course – following him on the fairways after being told by officials to stick to the cart paths. One fan flippantly asked, ‘Who are you? The fire marshal?’
Among the fans included one grandmother, ‘who learned that [Charlie] was competing and pulled her granddaughter out of school in the hope of Woods noticing her.’
On hole No. 12, while Charlie was walking off, another fan approached him and demanded that he sign a copy of his father’s book ‘How I Play Golf’. Smarr writes that when the fan was told by officials that wasn’t allowed, ‘she made a commotion of shushes and yells, including “I live here” as Woods teed off on No. 13.’
Thankfully for Woods, things didn’t get worse thanks to a two-man security detail, including a local sheriff’s deputy.
Even fellow golfers found the crowd overwhelming. ‘It’s definitely the most people I’ve ever seen at a pre-qualifier,’ said Charlie’s playing partner, ex-Tour pro Olin Browne Jr.
He told the PGA Tour website, ‘Charlie’s got a beautiful golf game. It’s tough to come out here and play a professional event at 15 years old. I think he conducted himself beautifully. He didn’t have his best stuff today, but he hit some high-quality shots.’
On the course, it was a tough day for the youngster. He shot an eleven-over 47 on the front nine and wrapped up the back nine with a 39 for a 16-over round.
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